My first experience - Sweden
From my previous travels, I concluded that I am not interested in seeing a new country from the window of a sightseeing bus, this is not enough for me. And so I decided to try to go on my own. Previous trips to Bulgaria do not count, everything is easier there. This decision was largely spurred on by the feedback from members of the forum about independent trips. Firstly, I want to thank all the participants in the form who answered my questions, gave advice, guys, you helped me a lot!
So, why did I choose Sweden for my first trip? To begin with, I chose a fairly safe country, in the sense of the possibility of strikes, terrorist attacks, natural disasters and other force majeure, besides, thanks to the Internet and emigration, a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend was found in Stockholm, in general, a person who volunteered to help, in emergency, well, so, for safety net.
Regarding the visa, I applied for a visa through a travel agency, which, of course, is more expensive than on my own, but for me it’s more convenient. Booked plane tickets through them.
As for housing, through the Internet I found an offer to rent a guest apartment. The Carlsberg area, a two-room nice little apartment with everything you need from dishes to bedding, 2 minutes from the subway cost me $ 30 per day.
And here is a passport with a visa, tickets, insurance on hand and "Tomorrow, at 7-22, I will sit in the plane in Boryspil and think about the pilot . . " I flew with the Aerosvit airline, there were 20 passengers for the whole plane. Before that, I flew only charters, hmm, feel the difference! And now Stockholm, Arlanda airport, of course, I'm a little nervous. But at first, then I had to be even more nervous.
PASSPORT CONTROL - I don’t know why the passport control worker didn’t like me, but they kept me there for 40 minutes. in general, I don’t know... But they asked me everything that was possible, except that they didn’t ask about the size of the shoes. In general, I took the rap for all the illegal immigrants from the CIS, as my emigrant friend later commented on this situation.
Well, finally, they let me into the territory of Sweden ! ! Ufff! ! Immediately at the airport I change money and purchase a plastic tourist card. A card for 3 days costs 625 SEK (about 60 euros), and gives you the opportunity to travel by all types of public transport and access to almost all museums in Stockholm. This saves money for those who plan to travel a lot and see a lot. The card is also attached a list of museums that can be visited with the schedule of working days, addresses and designation of what transport can be reached. Also at the counter you can take a map of Stockholm and a metro map. A train in public transport costs about 3 euros, entrance to museums from 10 to 20 euros. So consider yourself.
For residents of Ukraine, it is very convenient to recalculate the cost, because. kroon exchange rate to the euro is about the same as the hryvnia.
At the airport, I was met by the owner of the apartment that I rented, so the problem with delivery from the airport was solved for me immediately. What can I say, the very first impression was somehow incomprehensible. I look around: birch-trees, as if they had not flown anywhere. But when we drove into Carlsberg, oh, here I felt, I'm not at home, oh, not at home))
IMPRESSIONS HISTORICAL.
Very beautiful old town. These narrow medieval streets, these cozy little cafes, these houses are like from Christmas cards!! ! The Royal Palace - gloomy, but majestic, just got to the changing of the guard - interesting to see. Of course, the Nobel Museum is very interesting and informative, the information on the stands is in several languages, but not in Russian. So, if you decide to visit this museum on your own, be prepared for this, although there are booklets with general information in Russian.
Museum of Stockholm - scenes from medieval life, an exhibition about the history of the city. The scenes of everyday life are very interesting - near the fisherman's house it really smells of smoked fish, and near the bakery it smells of bread)) At first I thought that it seemed to me, no, it really is! By the way, you can take pictures in this museum.
The country residence of the Swedish kings, the place where the royal family lives in our time. Here, as in any park, ideally, it is better to go in the summer. I was struck by the modesty and accessibility of the royal family. When, pointing to a modest two-story house, my guide said: “And this is the house of Princess Victoria, by the way, if the flashlight is on, then she is at home. If we walk, we may meet her. ”, I was confused. Wait a minute!! ! And where are the security, flashing lights, three-meter concrete fences ?? ? Where are all these attributes of power, to which we are all so accustomed to here??
The impressions of the royal palace are quite calm. Yes, it is interesting in its own way, but it is far from the beauty of Petrodvorets.
The National Museum is where I spent almost half a day. Unfortunately, photography is not allowed in this museum! For those who are interested in history, painting, it will be very interesting. I had the opportunity for the first time in my life to admire the originals of my beloved Manet and Renoir.
I also climbed the TV tower to look at the city from a height.
And, of course, the famous Vasa Museum. It makes no sense to describe, because it's better to see once! Really impressive! Besides, I've been lucky here. I go to the museum, while I look around, I hear Russian speech, oh, an excursion with our tourists. I decided that the guide, in principle, did not care to tell for 30 tourists or for 31 and successfully passed the tour with a guide, and then also myself in the most interesting halls for me.
There is still a lot of unexplored and interesting places, but this is already in the next visit.
IMPRESSIONS HOUSEHOLD.
Clean, very clean, very, very clean!
I was struck by the number of people in wheelchairs in transport, museums, shopping centers. I was struck by how everything was thought out, economically, and well maintained.
Do you know what happened to me? I couldn't get on the tram the first time!!! Yes, yes, yes! ! You are funny, but I was not very...
It turned out that I was alone at the bus stop. A tram pulled up, I approached, but the doors do not open !! ! We stood with the tram, he left and I stayed... I, of course, realized that the problem was apparently in me, and not in the tram, but what, what should I do to get there ?? ? Luckily for me, people came to the stop and the next time I confidently pressed the magic gray button on the doors of public transport))) It's just that the doors in public transport do not open if no one needs to get out or come in, these are everyday little things))
About shopping, I walked around the shopping center of Stockholm, mostly for information. The Swedes dress quite modestly, everything is practical and dim. The only thing I bought was gloves of amazing quality and at an amazing price in the store "where Lenin bought his coat"))). So one of the oldest shopping centers was recommended to me)) Very good and inexpensive children's things - here I stopped with difficulty .
By the way, most department stores close early by our standards, that is. at 19 o'clock everything is already closed, supermarkets work longer. Finding a restaurant on a working day that is open until 23:00 is also very problematic, with the exception of Friday.
I tried to find a restaurant with national cuisine, but it didn’t work out)) As a result, I tried boiled potatoes with mushroom sauce and chicken croquettes, deep-fried with lingonberry jam. Very good! Even at home, sometimes now I surprise my friends and family with this dish))
Products in the supermarket cost somehow, in my opinion, quite differently, I still could not figure out whether it was more expensive in general or not. Eat cheap and high quality, like everywhere else, you need to know the places. Naturally, the center is more expensive. I liked one of the dining-buffet type establishments, we paid 55 crowns per person and all inclusive)) Ie. as in Egyptian hotel "restaurants" to choose from several types of the first, meat, fish, all kinds of side dishes, drinks, etc. , only the choice and quality are better than in Egypt)))
Of the souvenirs - lingonberry jam (a jar left at home in three days), for my daughter - in a souvenir shop near the Royal Residence, a cup with a royal monogram, and, as usual, for friends - plates, key chains, magnets with the symbols of Sweden, made in China.
Yep, one more thing. Since I am a smoking lady, this question worried me. There is no smoking anywhere on the premises. They smoke on the street, but there are ashtrays everywhere, no one pokes a finger))
In fact, of course, there are much more impressions from the cleanliness in the ordinary entrances of ordinary residential buildings, and from the pleasant unobtrusive politeness in the shops, and from the fact that in the capital of Sweden there are already fewer European people than everyone else (I'm not a racist, just , stating a fact). But it’s quite difficult for me to describe everything.
Conclusion, once again I was convinced that traveling on my own is quite possible and much more interesting for me personally. Thank you, also to my new friends from Sweden, for taking the time to give me the opportunity to see the country from the inside, many thanks to everyone!
